Alert archive / Alaska / Blizzard Warnings in 2023
Blizzard Warning 23, NWS Fairbanks, AK
NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this blizzard warning at Nov 9, 2023, 3:28 AM AKST for North Slope Borough, Alaska. It was in force for 24 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Nov 9, 2023, 3:28 AM AKST (12:28 UTC)
- Expired
- Nov 10, 2023, 3:40 AM AKST
- In force
- 24 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Fairbanks, AK
County North Slope Borough, AK
The text
As transmitted.
956 WWAK41 PAFG 091228 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 328 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 AKZ804-100300- /O.UPG.PAFG.WS.W.0023.231109T1300Z-231110T1600Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.231109T1228Z-231110T1600Z/ Central Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387 328 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Snow accumulations of up to three inches. Winds gusting as high as 65 mph. Blowing snow creating whiteout visibility at times. * WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && $$ AKZ802-803-805-100300- /O.EXT.PAFG.WS.W.0023.231109T1228Z-231110T1600Z/ Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast- Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Utqiagvik, Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 328 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...East winds gusting as high as 65 mph. Blowing snow creating low visibilities down to 1/2 to 1/4 mile at times. * WHERE...Northwest Arctic Coast, Northern Arctic Coast, Central Beaufort Sea Coast and Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. The cold wind chills as low as 5 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for blowing snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$ AKZ801-100300- /O.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1300Z/ Western Arctic Coast- Including Point Hope, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne 328 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Northeast winds gusting as high as 65 mph. Blowing snow creating low visibilities down to 1/2 to 1/4 mile at times. * WHERE...Western Arctic Coast. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 4 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. The cold wind chills as low as 5 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for blowing snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$
3 follow-up statements
344 WWAK41 PAFG 092027 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 1127 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 AKZ802-803-101500- /O.UPG.PAFG.WS.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ /O.EXA.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast- Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, and Utqiagvik 1127 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 75 mph and additional snowfall around two inches. * WHERE...Northwest Arctic Coast and Northern Arctic Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Blowing snow is leading to visibibility below 1/4 mile. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are ongoing. This is creating whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. && $$ AKZ804-101500- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ Central Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387 1127 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 75 mph and additional snowfall around two inches. * WHERE...Central Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Blowing snow is leading to visibibility below 1/4 mile. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are ongoing. This is creating whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. && $$ AKZ801-101300- /O.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1300Z/ Western Arctic Coast- Including Point Hope, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne 1127 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Winds gusting as high as 65 mph and ongoing snow showers creating very low visibility from blowing snow. * WHERE...Western Arctic Coast. * WHEN...Until 4 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow are significantly reducing visibility down to 1/2 mile. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for blowing snow and very strong winds means severe winter weather conditions are occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$ AKZ805-101500- /O.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 1127 AM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Winds gusting as high as 65 mph and ongoing snow showers creating very low visibility from blowing snow. * WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow are significantly reducing visibility down to 1/2 mile. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for blowing snow and very strong winds means severe winter weather conditions are occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$
007 WWAK41 PAFG 100034 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 334 PM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 AKZ801-101500- /O.UPG.PAFG.WS.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1300Z/ /O.EXA.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ Western Arctic Coast- Including Point Hope, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne 334 PM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of up to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph. * WHERE...Western Arctic Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow are reducing visibility down to 1/4 mile or less. A few power outages are possible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The Winter Storm Warning that was previously in effect has been replaced with this Blizzard Warning. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && $$ AKZ802>804-101500- /O.CON.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast- Central Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Utqiagvik, Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387 334 PM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 75 mph and additional snowfall around two inches. * WHERE...Northwest Arctic Coast and Northern Arctic Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Blowing snow is leading to visibibility below 1/4 mile. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are ongoing. This is creating whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. && $$ AKZ805-101500- /O.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 334 PM AKST Thu Nov 9 2023 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM AKST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Winds gusting as high as 65 mph and ongoing snow showers creating very low visibility from blowing snow. * WHERE...Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 AM AKST Friday. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow are significantly reducing visibility down to 1/2 mile. A few power outages are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning for blowing snow and very strong winds means severe winter weather conditions are occurring. This will make travel very difficult or impossible. && $$
729 WWAK41 PAFG 101240 WSWNSB URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 340 AM AKST Fri Nov 10 2023 AKZ801-110345- /O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.WW.Y.0118.231110T1300Z-231111T0400Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.WS.A.0020.231112T1800Z-231113T1200Z/ Western Arctic Coast- Including Point Hope, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne 340 AM AKST Fri Nov 10 2023 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM AKST THIS EVENING... ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT... ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... * WHAT...For the Winter Weather Advisory, blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. For the Winter Storm Watch, blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations of up to 3 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 65 mph. * WHERE...Western Arctic Coast. * WHEN...For the Winter Weather Advisory, until 7 PM AKST this evening. For the Winter Storm Watch, from Sunday morning through late Sunday night. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. A Winter Storm Watch for blizzard conditions means there is a potential for falling and/or blowing snow with strong winds and extremely poor visibilities. This can lead to whiteout conditions and make travel very difficult. && $$ AKZ802>804-110345- /O.CAN.PAFG.BZ.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ /O.NEW.PAFG.WW.Y.0118.231110T1300Z-231111T0400Z/ Northwest Arctic Coast-Northern Arctic Coast- Central Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Utqiagvik, Nuiqsut, Prudhoe Bay, Alpine, Deadhorse, Kuparuk, and the Dalton Highway north of MP 387 340 AM AKST Fri Nov 10 2023 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM AKST THIS EVENING... ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... * WHAT...Blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...Northwest Arctic Coast, Northern Arctic Coast and Central Beaufort Sea Coast. * WHEN...Until 7 PM AKST this evening. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && $$ AKZ805-101345- /O.CAN.PAFG.WS.W.0023.000000T0000Z-231110T1600Z/ Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast- Including Kaktovik, Flaxman Island, and Point Thomson 340 AM AKST Fri Nov 10 2023 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED... $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this blizzard warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this blizzard warning went out at Nov 8, 3:05 PM AKST, 12 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 8, 3:05 PM AKST, 12 hours 23 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
305 PM AKST Wed Nov 8 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Already gusty winds on the Arctic Coast become even stronger
overnight and gust to 70 mph Thursday. Those winds combine with
light fresh snowfall and residual snow to create long-duration,
very limited visibility down to 1/2 mile Thursday into Friday
morning so Winter Storm Warnings were issued. Gusty easterly
winds along the Dalton Highway north of Fairbanks further increase
overnight and are joined tomorrow by locations across and
immediately north of the Alaska Range with wind headlines in
effect. Light widespread to locally moderate snowfall is expected
in the West and Central Interior tonight into Thursday night.
Warm temperatures are expected in the Southeast Interior Thursday,
reaching the mid-30s. A low pressure moves into the Bering Sea
still Sunday to create concerns for late weekend to early week
heavy snowfall in western Alaska and Central Interior and localized
minor coastal erosion on the West Coas. Another low may then
quickly follow that up on Tuesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Upper levels, analysis and model discussion...
Low pressure will further deepen over the Gulf of Alaska for the
next twelve hours. High pressure over the Arctic Coast has moved
back eastward over the last 24 hours and into the western Chukchi
Sea by this afternoon. Models have varied on the placement of the
best QPF in guidance over the last 12 hours, but the chance of it
being within the general interior West and Central parts of
Alaska remains very high for tonight into Thursday. This will help
to create moderate snowfall in parts of the West and Central
Interiors by Thursday night.
Central and Eastern Interior...
High pressure over the interior of northwest Canada and low pressure
in the Gulf of Alaska have aided the formation of a Tanana Valley
Jet with strong easterly winds ongoing this afternoon already. The
zone encompassing the greater-Delta Junction area is seeing gusts in
the low-40 mph already where a Wind Advisory continues into
tonight. Peak wind gusts are expected to decrease late tonight
before another round of gusty winds develops downslope of the
Alaska Range, with gusts immediately north of the range up to 70
mph possible. The previous Wind Advisory has been upgraded to a
High Wind Warning for these travel potential impacts along the
Richardson Highway Thursday into Thursday night. Further northward
though, easterly winds gusting to 50 mph north and west of
Fairbanks persist tonight and then slowly decrease Thursday PM. No
changes were made to those Wind Advisories covering the Dalton
Highway and Tanana River Valley west of Fairbanks. Light snowfall
remains likely along and west of the Dalton Highway Thursday night
as the low in the Gulf lifts northward into the West Interior,
but the eastward extent remains a bit uncertain yet. The current
forecast for up to 2 inches covers the ongoing uncertainty well.
Beyond the wind and light snowfall, warm downsloping temperatures
are expected Thursday daytime in the Southeast Interior.
West Coast and Western Interior...
Weak mid-level low pressure over the West Coast begins to draw
moisture northward tonight into the Interior of Central and West
Alaska. A low pressure centered in the Gulf of Alaska moving
northward phases with that low to further deepen over the far West
Thursday as light snowfall begins tonight. Ensemble probabilistic
guidance shows a 70% chance of 4-5 inches of snowfall between
Shungnak and Bettles tonight and ending Thursday night in the West
and Central Interior. Other locations on the Seward Peninsula may
observe up to a few inches of snowfall as the low retrogrades
westward later Thursday and the richest moisture is located
overhead. At this point no warning headlines are anticipated with
the lower-end snowfall amounts forecast. Expect snowfall to taper
by Friday morning as the deeper low drops southward into Southwest
Alaska and a mid-level ridge moves overhead Saturday.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
Already strong easterly onshore winds over the Arctic Coast will
only further increase tonight with a tightening pressure gradient.
The forecast of gusts from 55 to 65 mph over many of the near-
coastline locations continues today and may bring impacts to area
communities late tonight into Friday morning. What has increased
though is the confidence in widespread blowing snow creating longer-
duration visibility around 1/2 mile in this 30 hr time period. The
previous High Wind Watches were upgraded to Winter Storm Warnings
due to the combination of both those already-expected wind impacts
and better confidence on long-duration very low visibility. The
winds begin to taper Friday morning, but low visibility may linger
into Friday midday. A warm front moves overhead Saturday night to
create a wind shift to southerly, with colder daytime temperatures
likely with the overland flow.
Extended Forecast Days 4-7...
A ridge of high pressure over the Bering Sea Saturday night quickly
gives way to an incoming low pressure moving through the Bering
Straight. Six to twelve hours of strong 25 to 35 mph southeasterly
winds north of the Seward Peninsula may create minor coastal erosion
near and southeast of Point Hope Sunday midday to early overnight,
but there still remains low confidence on any exact locations and
details. Model guidance has increased the pace at which this
system moves through the West Coast over the last 24 hours, which
has decreased the potential of widespread minor coastal flooding.
At this point, the best potential for heavier snowfall looks to
be Sunday evening into Monday, especially for the West and Central
Interior. Scattered snow showers linger into Tuesday as a more
southerly-located low pressure may move onshore into Southwest
Alaska Tuesday night to create another round of heavy snowfall.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Storm Warning for AKZ801.
Winter Storm Warning for AKZ802>805.
Wind Advisory for AKZ812-832-834-846.
Wind Advisory for AKZ837.
Wind Advisory for AKZ847-848-850.
High Wind Warning for AKZ849.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ801.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ802-808.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ804-805-852.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ804.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ805.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ806-807-854.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ806-852.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ807.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ808-810>815-856>861.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ809.
Gale Warning for PKZ810-812-856-858.
Storm Warning for PKZ811-857.
Storm Warning for PKZ813>815-859>861.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816-851-855.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ817.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ850-853.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ855.
&&
NLyThe office that day
Everything else NWS Fairbanks, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 11:21 PM AKST | Wind Advisory | AFG | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 14 hr |
| Nov 9, 2:55 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFG | 11 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:03 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFG | 35 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:31 AM AKST | Winter Storm Watch | AFG | Nome Census Area, Northwest Arctic, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 59 hr |
| Nov 9, 3:43 AM AKST | Wind Advisory | AFG | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 9 hr |
| Nov 9, 2:10 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFG | 37 hr | |
| Nov 9, 2:34 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFG | 12 hr |
Nearby
Blizzard Warnings in Alaska, 2023Every blizzard warning in 2023
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.